Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything Harry Potter related.
Rated M for later chapters, Sirius/Remus. Don't like it, don't read it!! Please review!!
Chapter 1
"C'mon Moony!!" Sirius called out as the four Marauders tromped through the snow on their way to Care of Magical Creatures. Remus had lagged behind even more than usual today, trying furiously to remember all the details of how to approach a unicorn without being gored for their exam today. He was usually prepared, but last night he had been too busy with Slughorn's Potions essay to study.
Sirius jogged back towards Remus. "C'mon mate. It's only a test after all. It's not the end of the world!!"
Remus contemplated him wryly. "Maybe not to you, but to me this is one more chance to prove to Dumbledore that he wasn't wrong in letting me come to Hogwarts."
"Oh, you're still going on about that? Moony, how thick can you be? Dumbledore obviously made the right choice, and you don't need to prove it to him!!" That was James. He had come back to see what Remus and Sirius were talking about.
Maybe you think he made the right choice, but I'm not so sure, thought Remus. He had been second guessing himself ever since his friends had decided to help him with his little 'furry little problem' as they always called it. Ever since the three of them had become Animagi just to help him he had started worrying. Was he betraying Dumbledore's trust? Was he 'overstaying his welcome' as Muggles put it?
"Ah, and here we are!! Cheer up Moony, you'll do fine!! Better than the rest of us anyway." Sirius chuckled and the four Marauders sat down at a vacant table. Remus shivered. He had no idea why Professor Kettleburn had decided to hold the class outdoors in the middle of winter, but there you have it. Rumours were that the man was slightly insane from his long years of dealing with magical creatures, though he looked to Remus as if he would last at least another decade before retiring.
"Good morning class," the professor croaked. "As some of you recall, we do have an exam today. It is a practical exam, though you should know that already. It is my hope that at least some of you studied, and I do hope to see at least one person left alive by the end of this class."
That would have scared the incoming third year, but Remus had had Professor Kettleburn for a full year before now, and he was used to the professor's gloomy remarks. Nobody had ever really died in this class, however Remus considered it possible, though not probable. He always took careful care among magical creatures since, due to lack of research, there were very few reports on what effect werewolves might have on assorted animals. So far only one animal had reacted to him, and that was a unicorn. The very animal he was going to be dealing with today.
"Don't look so down Remus," whispered James. "It'll be fine, don't worry." To Sirius he said, "he's like this every exam, honestly. It's like final exams all over again every single week for him."
Sirius smirked and batted James over the head. "Don't be mean Prongs. He can't help himself. Look at him study!!"
Indeed, Remus was reviewing tips in his head. Approach head-on… Whisper calmingly… Stop every three steps… And the list went on and on. Far too much to remember for either James or Sirius, who simply played it by ear and went with their gut instinct. Even Peter, who tried so hard to study, couldn't handle the notes Professor Kettleburn gave them. It was almost as bad as Potions.
"Remus Lupin!!" Remus jumped as he heard his name being called. He approached the unicorn carefully, reviewing the notes in his head. He hoped it would go okay…
All right, that was the first chapter. It was just the set up chapter, don't worry. And this story does have a plot, so it's not one of those mindless get-to-the-hot-scenes stories. I'll try to update often. Read and Review please!!